Programs of Study

Graduate Certificates

Graduate certificate programs are ideal for bachelor's degree-prepared engineers who wish to continue their studies without making the commitment of a master's program. Students may want to brush-up on new developments in their field or investigate another specialty.

Biomedical Engineering

Image data are of increasing importance in Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology. The application of microelectronic circuitry, high performance processors, and improved algorithms based on advanced mathematics has resulted in innovative new methodologies to acquire and process image data, permitting visualization, quantification, and functional analysis of tissues and organs.

The Biomedical Engineering Graduate Certificate is a multidisciplinary program, spanning courses in several departments in the College of Engineering including Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Plastic Engineering, Chemical and Nuclear Engineering, as well as the Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology program.

The certificate provides an excellent opportunity for educational experience to learn the principles and applications of imaging technology. It is a coordinated program of courses, seminars, and laboratory experiences jointly offered by the participating departments.

Required Courses

16.511

Medical Diagnostic Image Processing

IB.500

Introduction to Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology

Elective Courses

16.555

Applications of Microwaves and Lasers in Medicine

19.531

Occupational Biomechanics

24.542

Microscopy of Advanced Materials

24.541

AFM and X-ray Diffraction Analysis of Advanced Materials

26.553

Polymers in Medicine I

26.575

Biomaterials

Communications Engineering

This certificate provides a fundamental background in the understanding of information transmission, statistical properties of signals and noise, and both analog and digital modulation/demodulation techniques. Advanced topics in modern communications and the characterization of communication channels are covered in optional courses in coding, error correction, information measures, stochastic system modeling and wireless communications. The holder of the certificate will have both analytical and practical competence to contribute significantly to the design and development of new and updated communications systems.

Required Courses

16.543

Communications Theory

16.584

Probability and Random Processes

Plus one of the following

16.544

Communications Theory II

16.685

Statistical Communication Theory

Plus one of the following

16.545

Coding Theory

16.548

Information Theory

16.582

Wireless Communication

16.687

Applied Stochastic Estimation

Energy Conversion

Energy conversion is a discipline that spans across three departments: Electrical, Mechanical and Chemical & Nuclear Engineering. Interest is rising for practical applications in the housing industry to supply houses with clean sources of energy to meet electrical supply needs, as well as for space heating/ cooling. All renewable energy sources will be considered (e.g. wind energy and photovoltaics). Information about batteries, battery charging stations, battery chargers and energy conversion devices (such as rectifiers, inverters, choppers, controllers) is presented as related to the development of low emission vehicles.

As companies increasingly undertake engineering projects that bring together a wide range of disciplines for manufacturing an integrated product, it is often necessary to assemble teams of experts in these various disciplines, and prepare managers who have a fundamental, overall understanding of several different engineering areas. The certificate is designed to respond to the need for trained professionals who are responsible for managing complex engineering systems integrating algorithms, information, software and hardware. Completion of certificate courses in areas complementary to the individual's specific training will serve as an important starting point for engineering managers (and prospective managers) who need to solve complex interdisciplinary problems at the interfaces of electrical, computer, mechanical, materials engineering, and computer science and applied physics.

The program consists of six clusters:

Applied Physics

Computer Engineering

Computer Science

Electrical Engineering

Materials Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Within each cluster, there are a number of carefully selected courses ranging from introductory graduate level to more advanced, specialized electives.

Students must successfully complete four courses (12 credits), one or two of which may be taken in their area of expertise. The remaining courses must be taken in separate and different cluster areas. Courses are selected in consultation with one (or more) graduate program coordinators to best meet the student's needs in terms of background, interests, and work requirements. It may be necessary for students to take prerequisite course(s) if they do not have appropriate backgrounds for a particular cluster course.

Cluster Areas and Designated Courses:

Applied Physics

95.553

Electromagnetism I

95.554

Electromagnetism II

95.540

Image Processing (4 credits)

95.578

Integrated Optics: Wave Guide and Lasers

95.535

Introduction of Quantum Mechanics I

95.547

Laser Physics and Applications

95.538

Physical Optics and Waves

95.577

Solid State Electronic and Opto-Electronic Devices

95.521

Statistical Thermodynamics

Computer Engineering

16.550

Advanced Digital System Design

16.561

Computer Architecture Design

16.581

Computer Vision and Digital Image Processing

16.510

Digital Signal Processing

16.572

Embedded Real-Time Systems

16.575

FPGA Logic Design Techniques

16.552

Microprocessors Systems II and Embedded Systems

16.582

Network Design: Principles, Protocols, and Applications

16.573

Operating Systems and Kernel Design

16.521

Real Time DSP

16.502

VLSI Design

16.504

VLSI Fabrication

Computer Science

91.561

Computer Security I

91.562

Computer Security II

91.563

Data Communications I

91.564

Data Communications II

91.549

Mobile Robots

91.515

Operating Systems I

91.516

Operating Systems II

91.548

Robot Design

91.523

Software Engineering I

91.524

Software Engineering II

Electrical Engineering

16.528

Alternative Energy Sources

16.506

Antenna Theory and Design

16.532

Computational Electromagnetics

16.513

Control Systems

16.529

Electric Vehicle Technology

16.507

Electromagnetic Waves and Materials

16.512

Electronic Materials

16.519

Engineering of Submicron Machines

16.590

Fiber Optic Communications and Networks

16.543

Theory of Communication

16.509

Linear System Analysis

16.505

Microwave Electronics

16.533

Microwave Engineering

16.515

Power Electronics

16.584

Probability and Random Processes

16.571

Radar Systems

16.517

MMIC Design and Fabrication

Materials Engineering

26.544

Advanced Plastics Materials

10.506

Interfacial Science and Engineering and Colloids

10.507

Material Science and Engineering

26.503

Mechanical Behavior of Polymers

10.523

Nanodevices and Electronic Materials

10.527

Nanomaterials Science and Engineering

10.541

Nanostructural Characterization by SEM, TEM, and AFM

26.518

Plastics Product Design

Mechanical Engineering

22.512

Applied Finite Element Analysis

22.571

Concurrent Engineering and Quality

22.523

Cooling of Electronic Equipment

22.574

Design for Reliability Engineering

22.516

Experimental Modal Analysis

22.524

Fundamentals of Acoustics

22.575

Industrial Design of Experiments

22.573

Manufacturing Systems Engineering

22.591

Mechanical Behavior of Materials

22.515

Modal Analysis- Theoretical Methods

22.579

Robotics

22.562

Solid Mechanics

22.527

Solar Systems Engineering

22.550

Vibrations

Microwave and Wireless Engineering

The certificate is open to students who have an interest in learning more about the fundamentals and engineering applications of radiowave and microwave devices and systems. Wireless technologies are of increasing importance in a variety of personal communications and control applications. The integrated set of courses offers graduate level skills and knowledge which will provide a background for those wishing to participate in this rapidly expanding field. The certificate is open to students with a bachelors degree in electrical engineering or in related disciplines such as physics or electronics engineering technology with an appropriate background in electromagnetics.

Required Courses

16.531

Radio Frequency (RF) Circuit Design

16.532

Microwave Engineering

16.582

Wireless Communications

Elective Courses (choose one)

16.506

Antenna Design

16.571

Radar System

16.618

Performance of Wireless Communication Networks

Nanotechnology

The program will provide students with a fundamental knowledge of nanotechnology and is intended to respond to the increasing demand for trained professionals in nanoscience and technology. The certificate is designed for students with a background in chemistry, physics, biology, or any branch of engineering who want nanotechnology and nanomanufacturing workforce preparation. Students may focus on a concentration area based on their interests and background. Courses in each concentration area are carefully designed to provide both analytical and practical competence. Students may take any combination from the electives list.

Core Courses - Required:

25.550

Introduction to Nanotechnology

Core Courses: (Choose one)

10.541

Nanostructural Characterization by SEM, TEM, and AFM

84.510

Electron Microscopy of Advanced Materials

84.525

Analysis of Advanced Materials

Elective Courses (choose two courses):

Materials

10.527

Nanomaterials Science and Engineering

10.506

Interfacial Science and Engineering and Colloids

22.591

Mechanical Behavior of Materials

26.513

New Plastics Materials

26.598

Smart Polymers

Manufacturing

10.523

Electronic Materials Processing

10.535

Cell & Microbe Cultivation

10.545

Isolation & Purification of Biotech Products

16.504

VLSI Fabrication

26.502

New Plastics Processing Techniques

26.578

Advanced Polymer Processing

xx.xxx

Processing of Nanocomposites

Design and Devices

xx.xxx

Introduction to Nanoelectronics

16.502

VSLI Design

16.512

Electronic Materials

16.508

Quantum Electronics for Engineers

Health and Environmental Impacts

19.514

Aerosol Science

19.525

Industrial Hygiene and Ergonomics

19.557

Toxic Use Reduction

19.610

Exposure Assessment

19.617

Measurements of Airborne Contaminants

19.503

Toxicology and Health

Photonics & Opto-Electronic Devices

The certificate is offered jointly by the Electrical & Computer Engineering & Physics Departments and reflects the strong interests in the physics and technologies of electro-optics. Extensive research facilities include: new materials growth (molecular beam epitaxy) and device fabrication and testing laboratories.

Required Courses

95.577

Solid State Electronic & Opto-electronic Devices and

95.539

Electro-optics

or

16.595

Solid State Electronics and

16.568

Electro-optics

Elective Courses (choose 2):

16.508

Quantum Electronics

16.518

EMAG of Materials for Optical Engineers.

16.607

Waves in Complex Media

16.610

Optical Information Processing

95.547

Laser Physics & Applications

95.551

Fiber Optics (4 credits)

95.631

Nonlinear Optics

95.578

Integrated Optics: Wave Guides & Lasers

Stochastic System

This certificate provides a thorough grounding in the modeling of signals represented as random functions of time. A background in linear system theory, signal transforms and the theory of probability and random processes is given. The certificate is completed by choosing specialized courses in time series analysis, statistical communication theory or applied stochastic estimation. These courses deal with the estimation of signals and of noise using a variety of mathematical models such as likelihood and entropy based techniques, matched, adaptive and nonlinear filtering of signals. The holder of this certificate will have the analytical and practical competence to design for and evaluate probabilistic issues in communications, complex systems, and/or networks.

Required Courses

16.509

Linear Systems

16.584

Probability and Random Processes

Plus Two From:

16.684

Time Series Analysis

16.685

Statistical Communication Theory

16.687

Applied Stochastic Estimation

Telecommunications

The graduate certificate consists of courses from both the Computer Science and Electrical Engineering Departments. It is intended for students who hold a baccalaureate degree in science or engineering and who wish to concentrate on hardware/software issues pertaining to telecommunications.

Required Courses:

16.543

Introduction to Communication Theory I

91.555

Computer Networks

91.563

Data Communications I

Plus One Approved Elective

VLSI & Microlectronics

The purpose of this certificate program is to provide essential background in solid state physical electronics and very large scale integrated (VLSI) circuit fabrication. These courses, combined with two electives, will provide a customized background to the subject but with sufficient depth in an area of choice to provide tangible useful expertise.